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American Ballet Theater Thwarts Mikhailovsky’s Summer Plans

Matthew Murphy for The New York TimesNatalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev were guest stars in the company’s “Bright Stream” at the Met Opera House last June.

The Mikhailovsky Theater of St. Petersburg, Russia, scored a coup last fall by luring two of ballet’s biggest stars from the Bolshoi, and it was to have brought them to the United States this summer for a run of shows at Lincoln Center. But those plans have been scrapped, the Mikhailovsky’s agent said on Thursday, because American Ballet Theater exercised a no-compete clause involving those very same dancers. Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev also happen to dance with Ballet Theater – Ms. Osipova as a principal and Mr. Vasiliev as a guest. A Ballet Theater spokeswoman did not immediately return a phone message on Thursday.

The Mikhailovsky had longstanding plans to perform at the David H. Koch Theater from June 19 to July 1, presenting “Giselle;” an evening of works choreographed by its artistic director, Nacho Duato; and Mr. Duato’s version of “Sleeping Beauty.” The two Russian stars were to have alternated in the casts of “Giselle” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Meanwhile, Ballet Theater is scheduled to perform at the Metropolitan Opera house on Lincoln Center’s plaza around the same time.

Sergei Danilian, who represents both dancers, Mr. Duato and the Mikhailovsky, said he heard from Ballet Theater’s artistic director, Kevin McKenzie, on Wednesday that the company would not release Ms. Osipova and Mr. Vasiliev from a clause barring its members from performing nearby. He said it would be impossible to present the two long works with a single cast. The tour was announced before the two Russians were hired, but Mr. Danilian said it was planned with the expectation that they would join the company. He indicated he was aware of the no-compete clause in the dancers’ Ballet Theater contracts, but expressed disappointment nonetheless. “I was thinking they would be friendly,” he said. “But unfortunately, he feels it will affect his season,” Mr. Danilian said of Mr. McKenzie. “I was thinking like a human being, that artists need to cooperate,” he added. “Unfortunately, this market today, it’s terrible — everybody fighting for themselves.”